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Woman sentence for Mescalero Apache Reservation stabbing

Alamogordo Daily NewsBy Duane Barbati, Staff Writer

Updated:
05/24/2013 01:26:54 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES -- A 28-year-old Jicarilla Apache Nation woman was sentenced today in federal court to 20 months in federal prison for stabbing a Navajo woman at a party on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Heather Atole will also be placed on two years supervised probation after completing her prison sentence.

Atole was also ordered to pay $49, 321 in restitution for her victim's medical treatment.

Atole was arrested by the Mescalero Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services on tribal charges on Aug. 21, 2011, based on the assault that happened June 27, 2011.

She was arrested by the FBI on the federal criminal complaint Nov. 22, 2011, and Atole was indicted on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to federal court documents, Atole repeatedly stabbed a 28-year-old Navajo women during a party at a residence on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

The woman sustained stab wounds to the upper torso, shoulder and back, according to court records.

Atole told law enforcement officers that she stabbed the victim because she saw the woman kiss her boyfriend, according to records.

Atole pleaded guilty to both counts of the indictment on Sept. 11, 2012.

In her guilty plea, Atole admitted to stabbing the woman four times with an eight-inch kitchen knife because Atole perceived the victim to be a romantic rival. Atole has been in federal custody since entering her guilty plea.